Waterbury evening Democrat., 1887-12-16
LAND IN RUSSIA.
DEMAND OF THE PEASANTRY FOR
 THE DIVISION OF PROPERTY.


 Curious Illustrations of the Credulity of
 the Russian Peasants-NIysterious Ru-
 mors That Worked Like Leaven-Start-
 ing for the "Promised Land."
 The so called peasant question can be ignored no longer by the Russian govern ment. It demands immediate solution, and any delay may terminate in some fatal blow or other. A few facts gathered from various sources will speak for themselves.
 There are certain districts in the govern ments of Ekaterinoslaf and Poltava where the wretched condition of the peasantry is beyond description The land with which they were furnished by their pomiestchiks, or proprietors, soon after the liberation of the serfs, was as a matter of course not of the best kind. This, coupled with the facts of its being of the minimum quantity and the heavy taxes imposed by the government, will show what sweet life awaited the peasantry. Nobody apparently seemed to care jot about their welfore. At certain seasons they were bound to pay their taxes, and If for some reason or other 0 peasant failed to comply with the law he was liable to be deprived of his last horse or COW. It was no rare occurrence that O whole years hard labor would scarcely enable a peasant family to store away sufficient grain for their own use.
 There is a saying that misery likes to dwell in air castles. This saying has never proven more truthful than at the time when certain rumors were afioat that the enormous tracts of land in possession of the pomiest- chiks would be divided among the peasantry. How these rumors originated is mystery. Be it as it may, certain it is that these ru- mors worked like leaven. The prospect of becoming possessors of land was discussed eveTywhere-in the tavern, at home, in tho field If you saw two or three peasants en- gagged in conversation you could rest assured that the land question was the main topic of it. It was rumored that it was the earnest will Of his majesty the czar himself to see his children situated more comfortably than they were; that had he the power of doing the things that pleased him the land held by the proprietors would have been transferred long ago to the peasantry; that this question was twice brought up by the ear in senate: that he made a strong speech in favor of his beloved children, but that he was compelled to desist for fear of losing his head Further more, that ukase written and signed by the czar was sent to all the pomiestchiks com manding them to vacate their properties and divide their land among the peasantry. It was curious sight to sec on a Sunday morn ing a crowd of peasants surrounding the tavern and discussing their favorable situa- tion- The future, of course, was pictured in the brightest colors. Indeed, is there any thing more fascinating to Q Russian peasant than the thought of owning landl
 As the rumors continued stirring the minds the attention of the government was called to the necessity of suppressing them. Procla- nations to the effect that no such thing as division of the momiestchiks land will ever occur in Russia, and that liberal reward will be offered for the conviction of all per sons disseminating false rumors were issued by the governor generals of the affected dis tricts Such steps did not seem, however, to remedy the evil. The peasant was as firm as rock in his determination to stand up for the truth to the very last. Nothing could persuade him to the contrary. Iknow O fact of a starshina, or village official, having been beaten nearly to death because he attempted to reason with the excited crowd and explain to them tho contents of the proclamation "The czar's will must be carried out" was all that could be heard from the crowd.
 In the government of Ekaterinoslaf gro mada, or community, called on their proprie- tor and in the name of the ear and justice demanded of him the ukase, the keys of his stables, his cattle, his lands, etc. Upon being told that no such thing as an ukase was in existence, the enraged crowd began to play havoc with his furniture and old family pie lures, and would probably have treated the proprietor himself in like manner had it not been for the happy thought that occurred to his wife. In a few persuasive words she assured the crowd that no further attempt of depriving them n their rights would be made by her husband. She asked them, how ever, as a special favor, the privilege of re- maining Q few days longer in the house, which was unanimously granted
 A similar occurrence took place in another village. There, however, the affair was con ducted in a more diplomatic manner. A few elderly peasants, chosen as delegates, called on tho proprietor and stated to him their ob- ject. "You have the ukase; your estate be longs to us and don't you try to cheat us out of it this time.n The result in both cases was the same, a squadron of Cossacks and two wagon loads of "roggi" decided the land question. Many of the leaders were i'm priSoned and many were exiled.
 Such occurrences are, however, things of the past. The peasant has learned since the absurdity of such expectations But as it was no longer possible to put up with such a life other means to fight the evil began to suggest themselves to tho peasants mind. Many are leaving for "Amur," or Amurskaia, a land of which they have not the least conception. Indeed, the exodus for that unknown land keeps on increasing every day. A party is now in Petersburg, friend less and penniless. They manage to get along on what few kopecks or bread the women gather up. None of them evidently has the slightest idea of what the promised land has in store for them. "It can be no worse than we had, consequently we com mitted no folly by leaving" was all they had to reply to our questions.-St. Petersburg Cor. Philadelphia Times.